The MeatEater Podcast: Ep. 860 – Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CCXI
Release Date: April 8, 2026
Host: Spencer Newharth
Guests: Giannis, Randall, Brody, Nate, Roman, Anthony
Episode Overview
This episode brings another lively round of "MeatEater Trivia," the quiz show "where conservation always wins." Hosted by Spencer Newharth, six regulars (Giannis, Randall, Brody, Nate, Roman, Anthony) compete across hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking categories. MeatEater donates $500 to the conservation organization chosen by the episode’s winner—this time increased to $600 after a close overtime victory.
The episode includes an audience Q&A (the IFAQ), healthy banter, good-natured ribbing, listener-submitted trivia, and nuanced discussions of outdoor skills, wildlife facts, and the quirks of hunting and angling culture.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Trivia Stats & Player Banter (Starts ~03:26)
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Performance by Category:
- Yanni leads in hunting (80% correct)
- Brody leads in fishing (72%)
- Randall in conservation (72%)
- Steve (the absent Steven Rinella, but referenced) leads in cooking (82%).
- Each vertical championed by a different player, reinforcing the depth and diversity of the group.
"That just seems right." – Spencer (05:15)
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Teasing about fair question selection, egos about category dominance, and the unconscious biases of the host.
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Playful suggestion for more guest-hosting and different trivia categories.
Listener Q&A: Beginner Deer Hunting Calibers (07:00–09:42)
Question from a 10-year-old named Wynn:
- What calibers do you use for deer? Recommendations for beginners?
Crew’s Answers:
- Yanni: 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Win
- Randall: 6mm Creedmoor recently, historically .300 Win Mag, sometimes .45-70
- Brody: Emphasizes training kids on recoil, so they’re not scared
- General consensus: 6.5 Creedmoor as a beginner-friendly, versatile choice
- Emphasize: Shoot what you’re comfortable and accurate with
"It doesn't really matter as long as you can shoot it accurately." – Brody (09:26)
"Recoil sensitivity is paramount… bullet matters more than headstamp or caliber." – Randall (08:18; 08:24)
The Trivia Game Begins (10:00+)
Structure
- 10 questions, one per round, spanning the four main topics and "gear," "woodsmanship," and "wildlife."
Notable Rounds, Answers & Quotes
1. National Parks without Elk [10:09 – 12:53]
Q: Which of these national parks does NOT have elk? (Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Olympic, Theodore Roosevelt)
A: Joshua Tree
Memorable Moment:
- On reading questions too often for audio and YouTube listeners:
"Let's not run our lives based on YouTube comments, Randall." – Brody (11:50)
2. Firearm Acronyms [13:03 – 17:00]
Q: The acronym ACP stands for Automatic ___ Pistol?
A: Colt
Fun Digression: How hosts feel about the sound of their own recorded voices
"But a real, a real gun nut would say you never sell a gun... that's like a truism for a lot of the faithful." – Randall (16:05)
3. Atlantic Ocean Currents [18:18 – 21:24]
Q: The ___ Stream is the warm ocean current between North Carolina and Newfoundland
A: Gulf Stream
- Stories of fishing for yellowfin tuna and mahi in the Gulf Stream
"Every morning in the summer, it's like those dudes are racing to get to the Gulf stream." – Brody (21:43)
4. Outdoor Brands [25:50 – 28:41]
Q: Which brand named after an animal uses the slogan "Hydrate or Die"?
A: CamelBak
- Backstory: Invention involved an IV bag in a tube sock!
5. Crepuscular Terms [29:08 – 32:45]
Q: Eight-letter word for partially lit times before sunrise and after sunset?
A: Twilight
- Discussion of "civil," "nautical," and "astronomical" twilight—prime deer and bear hunting times
"Twilight is when crepuscular animals such as deer and bear are most active..." – Spencer (33:18)
- Joking:
"BMNT and ENT are the technical terms for those before and after, like for morning and night..." – Nate (32:45)
6. Koala Disease (STD) [34:11 – 37:08]
Q: Some koala populations have 100% infection rate of this STD?
A: Chlamydia
- No one got it right!
- Background: Can cause blindness, infertility, and is linked to population decline
"Koalas are listed as an endangered species... with the primary cause of population decline being habitat loss. Chlamydia is also a factor..." – Spencer (37:09)
7. Orange Edible Mushrooms [39:01 – 42:06]
Q: Bright orange mushroom known as "sulfur shelf"?
A: Chicken of the woods
"I'm the smartest man alive!" – Anthony, breaking his wrong-answer streak (42:01)
- Explanation of the “foolproof four” easily identifiable wild mushrooms
8. Fishing Line Types [46:22 – 49:33]
Q: Type of fishing line that changes color every 10 yards and has a flexible metal center?
A: Leadcore line
- Used for trolling; helps lures dive deep without weights
- Digression about web development woes and Nate’s hobby site
"Kind of. We shouldn't get into this..." – Randall, cutting off a website tangent (48:20)
9. Wildlife Artist [50:55 – 54:49]
Q: Terry ___, painter known for ducks and deer, named 'America's Most Popular Artist' by U.S. Art magazine (1991–1998)?
A: Redlin
- No one got it—fun read on how influential Terry Redlin was (eg. $28M raised for Ducks Unlimited).
10. Labrador Retriever Colors [55:54 – 59:46]
Q: How many Labrador retriever coat colors are recognized by the AKC?
A: Three (black, yellow, chocolate)
- Fox red is lumped as yellow, silver as chocolate.
Overtime: Mississippi River Length [59:56 – 62:47]
Q: How many miles long is the Mississippi River?
A: 2,350 miles
- Winner: Brody and Nate closest. Anthony actually guessed 2,323—just 27 miles off!
- Prize upped to $600 donation
Other Notable Quotes & Moments
- On letting go of inherited firearms:
"Maybe your grandpa would be happy to see you turn that gun into a gun that you love." – Randall (19:13)
- Riffing on public banter and social media heat:
"When I started this job, I didn't realize how many people would want me dead and tell me that... I'd wake up on Sunday mornings and there'd be a message on my phone that I just open it up and it was like, I hate you." – Randall (27:33)
- Fun exchanges on hanging grip challenges and company culture
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Stat breakdowns and player banter: 03:26–07:00
- IFAQ listener Q&A on deer calibers: 07:00–09:42
- Trivia Question 1 begins: 10:09
- Elk in National Parks: 10:09–12:53
- ACP pistol acronym: 13:03–17:00
- Gulf Stream fishing discussion: 18:18–21:24
- CamelBak and hydration brands: 25:50–28:41
- Twilight and hunting terminology: 29:08–32:45
- Koala STDs & conservation: 34:11–37:08
- Chicken of the woods mushroom: 39:01–42:06
- Leadcore fishing line: 46:22–49:33
- Wildlife artist Terry Redlin: 50:55–54:49
- Lab colorations & AKC: 55:54–59:46
- Mississippi River overtime, prize: 59:56–62:47
Outcome & Wrap-up
- Winner: Nate, overtaking Brody in a tight overtime finish—$600 to the MeatEater Land Access Initiative for conservation.
- Episode closes with gratitude, classic MeatEater camaraderie, and playful ribbing about hosting, knowledge gaps, and whose voice really sells the quiz show.
Final Thoughts
This episode delivers the MeatEater Podcast at its best: blending deep outdoor knowledge with lighthearted, sometimes rowdy trivia. Listeners get a sense of camaraderie, expert insight, and a heap of outdoor tips, with some left-field facts thrown in (who knew about koala chlamydia?). Newcomers and veterans alike will find something to enjoy—as always, "where conservation wins."
For Listeners Short on Time: Most Memorable Quotes
- On learning to shoot: "It doesn't really matter as long as you can shoot it accurately." – Brody (09:26)
- On podcast hosting: "Spencer has just like a unequivocally good voice." – Nate (14:29)
- On outdoor brands: "Hydrate or die." – (CamelBak slogan, 28:41)
- On public feedback: "Let's not run our lives based on YouTube comments, Randall." – Brody (11:50)
- On hunting during twilight: "Favorite time to be hunting a deer." – Consensus (33:35)
Summary by an avid MeatEater listener. For the full experience—and laughs—listen to the episode!